Relativity Suite

Relativity Suite is a free-jazz LP by Don Cherry on Jazz Composer's Orchestra Records which was released in 1973.

Relativity Suite
Studio album by Don Cherry and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Released	1973
Recorded	February 14, 1973
Studio	Blue Rock Studio, New York
Genre	Jazz
Length	33:22
Label	JCOA
Producer	Don Cherry, Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra chronology
Escalator Over the Hill (1971) Relativity Suite (1973) Numatik Swing Band (1973)
Don Cherry chronology
Organic Music Society (1972) Relativity Suite (1973) Eternal Now (1973)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

Criticism

Jazz critic Scott Yanow wrote: “Highlights include Selene Fung's lovely work on the ching, a Chinese koto-like instrument, and Ed Blackwell's exuberant New Orleans marching patterns on the concluding number. While not as breathtaking or cohesive as his Eternal Rhythm, Relativity Suite almost matches that release in its first half and contains many a worthwhile joy.”[3]

Background

Having appeared on the first two JCOA records by Michael Mantler and Carla Bley, Cherry was commissioned to write the third one in 1970. He used many of the same musicians who contributed to the first two records and molded into a suite a string of the pieces he'd been composing and performing in the previous few years. Studying with Pandit Pran Nath, Cherry was increasingly using Indian karnatic singing in his recordings and concerts and he starts the album with a similarly derived chant."[4]

Track listing

1. "Tantra" – 8:00
2. "Mali Doussn'gouni" – 5:40
3. "Desireless" – 1:22
4. "The Queen of Tung-T'ing Lake" – 4:30
5. "Trans-Love Airways" – 6:50
6. "Infinite Gentleness" – 3:22
7. "March of the Hobbits" – 3:38

Personnel

• Don Cherry - composer, conductor, trumpet, conch, voice, percussion
• Charles Brackeen – soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, voice
• Carlos Ward – alto saxophone, voice
• Frank Lowe – tenor sax, voice
• Dewey Redman – tenor sax, voice
• Sharon Freeman – French horn
• Brian Trentham – trombone
• Jack Jeffers – tuba
• Leroy Jenkins – violin
• Joan Kalisch – viola
• Nan Newton – viola
• Pat Dixon – cello
• Jane Robertson – cello
• Charlie Haden – bass
• Carla Bley – piano
• Ed Blackwell – drums
• Paul Motian - drums, percussion
• Moki Cherry – tambura (Trans-Love Airwars)
• Selene Fung – ching

Production

• Producer: Don Cherry and the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra
• Publisher: Eternal River Music (BMI)
• Engineer: Eddie Korvin
• Studio: Blue Rock Studio, Greene Street, Manhattan, New York
• Cover: Quilt designed and handmade by Moki Cherry photographed by Gregory Reeve
• Back cover photography: Don and Eagle Eye Cherry by Jonathan Sa’ada

External links

• Article by jazz journalist Howard Mandel
• Jazz Composer’s Orchestra at All Music

References

1. Olewnick, Brian (2011). "Relativity Suite - Don Cherry | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
2. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 40. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
3. All Music Guide to Jazz –ISBN 0-87930-530-4
4. Scott Yanow – All Music